Caryatids are sculpted representations of human females that are incorporated onto the facade of buildings as supports for other elements directly above. They are different from statues, which are purely decorative, in that they form part of the structure of the building, or at least appear to do so. These, while awesome, don't qualify. Caryatids were popular in ancient Greece and seem to have enjoyed a brief comeback about 100 years ago. When they're male instead of female they are called atlantes.

I think both the female and male versions are completely beautiful. If we can manage to keep the thread mature, I'd love to see examples from around the world, both of the sculptures and how they are incorporated onto their buildings.

MPK's awesome Detroit thread from a few days ago featured these pictures of the caryatids on the Book Building, which was the impetus for this thread:

Of course, the most famous caryatids are those of the Erectheum on the Acropolis in Athens. these ladies have got to have some sore-ass backs by now, considering they've been supporting that stone above them for ~2,400 years now.

^ caryatids don't necessarily have to literally be a structural element of a building, but at a minimum they must at least APPEAR to be structural. none of the applied sculpture shown in that picture of versailles meets that requirement.

Aesthetically speaking, the caryatids don't do anything for me. Maybe it's poor execution or my lack of education preventing me from appreciating them more... The atlantes, on the other hand, are far more impressive in every example I come across in a google search.